St. Louis Globe-Democrat

RADIO GAGA: Are the suits' knee-jerk reactions to radio's new Personal People Meters detrimental to St. Louis airwaves? You betcha!

In this new PPM world, longtime popular on-air personalities are getting the heave-ho with little regard to their consummate skills engaging listeners to tune in to the station.

The latest casualty is Jim Doyle, who's out as the afternoon drive host for KEZK. The mellifluous Doyle had been a linchpin of the soft-rock leader, often earning number one books, during the past 15 years.

Unfortunately, he joins former colleague Kris Kelly and K-Hits' J.C. Corcoran as prominent lay-offs attributed to PPM stats.

What's going on with these panic-driven decisions by corporate suits in the ever-changing media landscape? In this economic downturn, the advertising-driven media's been hit hard, and downsizing is the norm.

We get that. We don't get the end-all, be-all mentality of PPMs, which are not proven. They might have the raw data of hearing, but how effective is it? Arbitron's diary method may have been faulty, but how accurate is a PPM recording that someone listened to a station for 45 minutes because it was playing in their dentist's office?

Taking away people who've built solid reputations and developed real tangible relationships with listeners seems suicidal.

What's happening is that local radio is turning into an iPod. So why should we tune in if we don't have a recognizable voice engaging us? People communicate over the air, giving us their take on the news of the day and introducing the playlist.

Research indicates people tune out commercials and talk -- well, duh. "They've always done that," Doyle said, but this just playing music is a troubling trend.

Doyle poses the question: Can program directors do better than listeners when folks have 7,000 songs stored on their iPods?

"If I just wanted to hear music, why would I listen to a station?" he said. "Why don't they get that? If radio wants to be relevant, I think its shooting itself in the foot. They're trying to remain viable, but it's these men behind the green curtain . . . " Doyle said.

"People would come up to me at remotes, and introduce themselves, and tell me how much they enjoyed when I talked about my wife and son. They didn't say, oh you had a great segue between Bruce Springsteen and Genesis the other day," Doyle commented.

Self-promotion's been part of the radio game for decades, and the soft-rock station made sure its staff was out and about. KEZK was on top because of their hard work at promotions and appearances. In 2007, KEZK beat No. 1 KMOX among listeners 12 and up, a feat no one had accomplished in 33 years.

"That was a huge deal to achieve that. We were number one in middays and afternoon," he said.

Sure, ever since deregulation in 1996, radio's become increasingly homogenized, with voice-tracking and syndicated programming blocks, not local talking heads.

But is slashing the personnel -- the very ones who are the face of the radio station in the community and help sell advertising through endorsements and personal appearances -- the way to go?

We're perplexed and mystified about this latest development. Weren't the corporate honchos warned not to panic about this new way to measure ratings?

"They're gutting the radio station. It's horrible. It's very reactionary -- it's a bunch of CBS suits trying to save their own asses," Doyle stated.

'I don't think they know what's going to happen. They're so scared of the PPM world and don't know what to do," he said. What's even sadder is that they were told to have some patience with this new system, not to make rash decisions.

CBS also owns KMOX and KYKY. KEZK now has Ed Goodman alone in the morning, Dana Daniels moved to midday, and the syndicated Delilah is at night. There's no news person, no jetcopter traffic, and the morning producer Soo Jin Wallen was axed. She was offered the receptionist job.

Cleveland-born Doyle, by all accounts a prince of a fellow, plans to stay in St. Louis. His wife, Ann, works for Washington University's School of Medicine, and their son Seamus is 16.

"Would I love to be back on the radio? Sure. I'd go with NPR in a minute. I'm too young to retire. I've had a really good run. I'm going out on the top of my game," he said.

Doyle had nice things to say about his program director and sales manager, as well as his co-workers. He's very sad that one of the heritage stations of St. Louis is being dismantled this way.

For now, he is doing voice-over work, and as they say, will mull over his options. Doyle's racked up 20 years in St. Louis radio, working at KADI and WMRY early in his career. He left for San Diego in the late '80s, returning in 1995.

UPS AND DOWNS: The Oprah spotlight was on three real-life unemployed workers who made memorable appearances in "Up in the Air." Lamorris Conner of St. Louis and Marlene Gorkiewicz and Arthur Hill of Detroit were part of Oprah Winfrey's interview with director Jason Reitman on Jan. 29.

Lamorris came up with the "Chuck E. Cheese" line on his own. All the unemployed workers used in the movie were told that they could say what they did when they were let go, or what they wished they would have said.

Reitman told the three: "You said the kind of things that I would have never written and you said them in a way that I could never have directed you to do. You gave all the actors a run for your money."

All three are still out of work. Marlene worked in Human Resources with an airline company, and after 27 years, was told in a letter that she would no longer have a job. Art worked for Chrysler for 30 years.

"Up in the Air" is the first movie shot in St. Louis to score an Oscar nomination for Best Picture. It received six nods total, with Reitman nominated for adapted screenplay and director.

IN THE MIX: "Up in the Air" is not the only local tie to the Oscar race this year. Belleville's own David Rasche is in the under-appreciated but biting political satire "In the Loop," which scored an original screenplay nomination.

Rasche, who grew up the son of a Millstadt pastor, plays warmonger Linton Barwick, an assistant secretary for policy, in "In the Loop." He's best known as TV's "Sledge-Hammer!" (1986-88) and has a long resume of TV appearances, including 10 episodes of "Ugly Betty" as Calvin Hartley and "All My Children' in 2006.

The Belleville West alum has been married to his wife Heather since 1976 and they have three children. He was part of the legendary Second City troupe in Chicago, replacing John Belushi when he headed for "Saturday Night Live" back in 1975.

NOT SO FAST: The Clydesdales are back in the Super Bowl ad mix that Anheuser-Busch InBev is revealing Sunday. After much clamor about the beloved company symbol being thrown out for funny, the decision was reversed.

SO BAD IT'S GOOD?: Heralded as "The Citizen Kane of bad movies," "The Room" will be getting prime exposure at the Tivoli as the midnight movie for two weekends, March 12-13, and April 9-10.

A quirky American black comedy about love, passion, betrayal and lies, "The Room" stars writer-director Tommy Wiseau as a successful banker with a great respect for—and dedication to—the people in his life, especially his future wife Lisa (Juliette Danielle).

By delving into the lives of five major characters, it raises the question, "Can you really trust anyone?"

This midnight cult sensation has been running for more than six years in Los Angeles and is ready to take St. Louis by storm. We must see if it's worse than "Terror of Tiny Town!"

NAUGHTY 'N NICE: Interesting calendar items - - a Valentine's Sweet & Sassy Burlesque Show is planned for Wednesday, Feb. 10 at 9 p.m. at The Fountain on Locust.

Back by popular demand, the Koken Art Factory is hosting Naughti Gras for its third consecutive year. This adults-only art event is Friday, Feb. 5, and Saturday, Feb. 6, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at 2500 Ohio Avenue (at Sidney) in the Fox Park neighborhood.

Entertainment includes bands, belly dancers and burlesque performers.

Scheduled to appear are Lola van Ella and the Bon Bons, Gravity Plays Favorites, Dogtown Allstars, Bottoms Up Blues Gang, Final Veil, The Monads, Brown Bottle Fever, Sumaiya, Megan Hartmann and The Improv Trick.

All the show details are on the website: www.kokenartfactory.com

KLOSE CALLS: Mark Klose returns to the K-Hits (96.3 FM) airwaves this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to launch a classic segment featuring requests and a deep-cut selection from favorite albums. The 4-hour "Klose Encounters" will feature "Out of the Ordinary" songs, and you can send Mark your request by e-mailing him at: ,mailto:mklose@k-hits.com>

IT’S ISLAND POETRY, MON!: This has to be one of the grayest winters in St. Loo in a long time. If you can’t afford an island vacation, Philip Nanton’s spoken word poetry happening is the next best thing.

Nanton hails from Barbados and is the writer and producer of the d Island Voices. He’s a regular contributor to Caribbean Beat, The Caribbean Writer, the Caribbean Review of Books and other literary magazines and he has written and presented Caribbean culture segments for BBC Radio Networks, which is all very fa-fa-fa.

But trust us when we tell you he’s a very entertaining guy. So go stick your toes in his literary sand on Monday, Feb. 8, at 5 p.m. in Gallery 210 (Building 7) on the UMSL campus.

POSTER NOTES: This being about pop culture and all, we would like to direct your attention to http://www.listal.com/list/m-p-t-t-t. It’s a website about “If Movie Posters Told The Truth.”

It’s a hoot, with posters such as “Sex and the City” -- Two Hours of Whiney White Women; “Gran Torino” -- Clint Eastwood is a Racist Old Man . . . Who Learns to Love; “Pretty Woman” -- Making the Oldest Profession All Fluffy . . . Hooker Got Lucky; “300” -- Prepare for Six Packs! Semi-Nude Men on a Suicide Mission; and “Titanic" -- Everyone Knows How This Will End But Your Girlfriend Will Cry Anyway. Sinking Boat Because of Celine Dion.

TAKING IT TO STL: McCluer High School's most famous alum, Michael McDonald, is headlining a benefit concert for the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse - St. Louis area that's just been announced for July 23 at the Blanche Touhill Center for the Performing Arts. The multiple Grammy winner now resides in Tennessee with his family but returns home from time to time. For ticket info, visit touhill.org.

HAPPY TOGETHER: The Turtles, featuring Flo and Eddie, are back on the road and coming to the Argosy Casino in Alton. Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan bring their larger-than-life personalities, their greatest hits collection, and their view askew to their performances.

Whether you watched them on "Hullabaloo" or sang along to "You Baby" on the car radio or know them from their Zappa Mothers of Invention days, you won't want to miss these guys. Showtime is at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 19, and at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20.

Like "Elenore," we think they're swell!

(And Howard's married to one of our fave former local radio ladies, Michelle Dibble, late of KYKY98's Phillips and Company morning show.)

BREAK A LEG: K-HITS' producer Laurie Mac, also a professional actress, is playing Truvy in the new Dramatic License Productions' "Steel Magnolias," in the new Artropolis arts district in the Chesterfield Mall. Besides McConnell, the all-female cast includes Colleen Backer, Donna Weinsting, Stephanie Brown, Kim Furlow and Sally Eaton. It's directed by Anna Marie Pileggi and runs through Feb. 20.

IDOLVERSE: After three weeks of watching increasingly tedious "American Idol" auditions, we're ready for Hollywood Week, which cruelly crushes dreams, breaks hearts and polishes diamonds in the rough. We get two weeks this year to glimpse the grueling ordeal.

That's when the four judges -- with Ellen DeGeneres making her first appearance on the panel -- will pare the 172 Golden Ticket recipients down to the 24 who get their shot at dazzling America.

So who creeped you out the most in the weird-and-wacky auditions? Was it the "Barney" alumnus whip girl? The guy who had to be escorted out in hand-cuffs?

The Bikini Guy? The glitter dude? Hands down, it was the perversely come-hither attempts by the deluded fame-mongerer who covered The Divinyls' "I Touch Myself."

Making a return trip to Hollywood is Dave Gowryluk of Cottleville, Mo. The Canadian transplant plays in a band called Table Music, and received a Golden Ticket last year, but didn't advance. He thought he learned from his mistakes and gave it another go, auditioning in Atlanta. Contest rules means he can't let anyone know his status until the big reveal.

Margo May from Kansas City, Mo., is the only other Missourian making it to Hollywood Week. Sean Butler of Springfield, Ill., was the sole downstate Illinoisian (outside of Chicago) to move on as well.

The 24 semifinalists will be revealed Feb. 17, with Feb. 23 the start of audience voting. For Season 9, Idol won't use the Wild Card, like it did the first three seasons and last year. Instead, girls will perform on Tuesdays, guys on Wednesdays, with eliminations on Thursdays, and the 12 Finalists will be announced March 11. The competition begins March 16.

What did you think of the celebrity judges filling the Paula Abdul Memorial Chair? Neil Patrick Harris and Shania Twain were the tops, with Mary J. Blige and Kristen Chenoweth a close second, while giggling Avril Lavigne, near catatonic Joe Jonas and terse Posh Spice added little to the proceedings.

An Entertainment Weekly staffer counted how many words the Jonas Brother spoke during the Dallas segment, and it was a whopping 40. She has the entire transcript on record, and it includes a couple 'yeah"'s.

It's always interesting to see who has the combination of talent, personality, star quality and stamina to be named finalists, who crosses the line from wedding singer to superstar?

(And treading the boards seems a legitimate option for post-Idol singers. Latoya London, memorable as one of the "Three Divas" from Season 3, along with winner Fantasia Barrino and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson, is now appearing at the Fox in St. Louis as Nettie in the national touring company of "The Color Purple.")

MEMORY LANE: The current edition of Classic Drummer Magazine (Vol. 9, Issue 2) features bandleader and drummer Bob Kuban in the article "More Than A One-Hit Wonder." When asked by St. Louis author David Huelsing as to what drummers influenced him. Kuban said Sonny Payne, Buddy Rich, and Dave Weckl were among his favorites.

Kuban tells of sitting in with Chuck Berry as a teenager, and later, Ike Turner at Club Imperial.

Coincidentally, Huelsing's parents were students at Bishop DuBourg High School when Kuban was a member of the faculty as a teacher of instrumental music.

Kuban writes the "Flashbacks" feature for the Globe-Democrat.com that appears on Fridays, which reflects on venues and personalities that have been a part of St. Louis' entertainment industry.

HONOR ROLL: This week's notables in the news-- Albert Pujols is among the pro athletes making a plea for Haitian relief donations in televised commercials for the Bush-Clinton Fund.

"Winter's Bone," which was filmed in the Missouri Ozarks using local people and themes, won both the dramatic jury and screenwriting prizes at the recent Sundance Film Festival. Look for the movie to have a summer release.

Jasmine Huda announced she was leaving KSDK during a broadcast Jan. 30. She's been with the station since 2007, doing news reporting and filling in as an anchor. No word yet on where she's headed. Considered one of the best and brightest of the newbies on the local scene, she just might show up on another station after the no-complete clause time period's over. Just sayin'.

SPARKS 'N SNARKS: Oh, those Grammy Awards. Where do we start? We're not even going to mention the sooty-facades of Elton John and Lady Gaga that kicked off Sunday's three and a half hour ceremony (time enough to present just 12 awards).

Worst Duet: Taylor Swift might be cute and youthful, and write Dear Diary songs that young girls adore, but she can't stay on-key during live performances. Her flat duet with Stevie Nicks displayed this weakness and produced a torrent of criticism.

Best Duet: No flashy dancers, pyrotechnics or gimmicks -- just soaring, passionate vocals by Andrea Bocelli and Mary J. Blige in a "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" duet to benefit Haitian relief.

Poorest Song Choice: If you are going to approve a song for Grammy performance, then why bleep half of it out? What were Eminem, Lil Wayne and Drake singing, and why does Quentin Tarantino think he's black?

Best Stunt: Pink was stunning as a trapeze artist but does anyone remember the song?

Most Welcome Trend: Girl power might have ruled the night with Beyonce collecting a record six Grammys and country-pop neophyte Taylor Swift winning four, but how 'bout the comeback of scruffy guy bands? The Kings of Leon, a brothers' rock band, scored Record of the Year with "Use Somebody" (and if you haven't heard it, turn on a music station, for it's played in what they politely refer to as "heavy rotation"). The Zac Brown Band was named Best New Artist on the strength of its "Chicken Fried" and other country hits, and mainstream punkers Green Day won best rock album for "21st Century Breakdown" (and had its "Glee"-type rendition of '21 Guns" with the Broadway cast of their new musical 'American Idiot"! Oh the irony!)

Worst New Trend: What's the significance of a bunch of stormtroopers taking the stage in Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" mash-up with "You Oughtta Know' (?). It put the 'bomb' in bombastic.

Burning Questions: Who is Justin Bieber? Why was the Michael Jackson tribute in 3-D if the home viewers couldn't watch it that way? (And no, the "Avatar" 3-D glasses didn't work on it.)

THE LAST WORD: "Let's face it. Your industry this year was saved by a 48-year-old Scottish cat lady in sensible shoes." -- Stephen Colbert, on Susan Boyle's success, at the Grammys.

"Dishing It Out" began as a weekly pop culture column in 1985 in the St. Louis Globe-Democrat by Living/Features co-workers Chas Adams and Lynn Venhaus. Despite the demise of newspaper, they're still writing, reuniting for the new, online version. You can reach them at: dishingitoutcolumn@gmail.com

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